Rosa hybrida shrub named ‘AUSblanket’

ABSTRACT

A variety of rose plant of the shrub class, named ‘AUSblanket’. The ‘AUSblanket’ rose is a plant having a strongly fragrant myrrh scent, rounded buds that are rich butter yellow with red flashes developing into apricot blooms, maintaining the rounded chalice shape of the early bud, and being a particularly healthy shrub with few thorns.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridashrub.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘AUSblanket’.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The current application claims priority to a European Community PlantVariety Application No. 2011/2133, filed Sep. 7, 2011, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

ORIGIN OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of shrub rose plantnamed ‘AUSblanket’, which was originated from the cross-pollination ofthe two ‘unnamed’ and unpatented seedlings of Rosa hybrida.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of this breeding was to produce a variety of rosewith an intense myrrh fragrance, and having rounded buds that are richbutter yellow with flashes of red, which develop into chalice shapeblooms that are apricot in color overall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherspresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventoris the following combination of characteristics: a strongly fragrantmyrrh scent, rounded buds that are rich butter yellow with red flashesdeveloping into apricot blooms, maintaining the rounded chalice shape ofthe early bud, and being a particularly healthy shrub with few thorns.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed outdoorsat Bowling Green Lane in Albrighton, Britain shows that the foregoingand other distinguishing characteristics come true to form and areestablished and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.‘AUSblanket’ may be asexually propagated by budding. The buddingsuccessfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ (notpatented) in the United States, and Rosa dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ (notpatented) for the observed plants in the UK.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed and pollen parents of ‘AUSblanket’ are two unnamed seedlings.The new rose may be distinguished from its seed parent, by the followingcombination of characteristics: the new variety is rich butter yellowwith flashes of red, which develop into apricot once fully opened, whilethe parent is pink, and the new variety has a rounded chalice shapebloom while the parent has a cupped bloom. The qualities of the pollenparent are unknown.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The closest commercially available cultivars to the new variety are the‘AUSjo’ (unpatented), which is available commercially under thetradename ‘Jude the Obscure’, and ‘AUStwist’ (unpatented), which isavailable commercially under the tradename ‘The Shepherdess’. The newrose may be distinguished from the ‘AUSjo’ variety by the followingcombination of characteristics: the ‘AUSblanket’, which is availablecommercially under the tradename ‘Wollerton Old Hall’, has a bloom withhints of yellow, whereas in ‘AUSjo’ has a bright yellow color and‘AUStwist’ has a soft apricot color. ‘AUSblanket’ also has a strongmyrrh fragrance compared with ‘AUSjo’, which has a fruity fragrance, and‘AUStwist’ is fruity with hints of lemon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon The Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(2001) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

Observations of budded ‘AUSblanket’ specimens were made at a nursery inAlbrighton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom. The following description isof 1 year-old rose plants of the new variety grown outdoors inAlbrighton, Britain in the month of June. Phenotypic expression may varywith environmental, cultural and climatic conditions, as well asdifferences in conditions of light and soil.

FLOWER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Blooming habit: Recurrent. The number of blooms per plant during the    growing season is profuse, but at any given time during the first    flush in summer there are 8-16 blooms per plant. There are too many    blooms over a full growing season to count.-   Bud:    -   -   Size.—About 2 cm long and 1.8 cm in diameter when the petals            start to unfurl.        -   Form.—The bud form is pointed short and globular.        -   Color.—When sepals first divide, the bud color is            yellow-orange RHS 20B with flashes of red RHS 38A. When half            blown, the upper sides of the petals are yellow-orange RHS            18A and the lower sides of the petals are yellow-orange RHS            18A (with the outer petals flashed with orange-red RHS 34B).        -   Calyx.—Shape: star-shaped when fully opened with the sepals            folding back. Length: 4.4 cm. Diameter: 5 cm.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Regular. Color: Upper Surface: green            RHS 143D. Lower Surface: green RHS 143C with some red-purple            RHS 64B. Length: 32 mm. Width: 13 mm. Shape: Deltoid with            extensions. Surface texture: Upper Surface: Downy. Lower            Surface: Smooth. Number: There are 3 normally appendaged            sepals, and 2 unappendaged sepals with hairy edges.        -   Receptacles.—Color: green RHS 143C. Shape: pitcher. Size:            medium, about 1.3 cm×1 cm. Surface: Smooth.        -   Peduncle.—Length: short, averaging about 5 cm. Surface:            Glandular. Color: light green RHS 143C. Strength: Normal.        -   Bud leaves.—Color: light green RHS 143C.-   Blooms:    -   -   Size.—Medium, average open diameter is about 9.5 cm.        -   Borne.—Mostly singly in clusters of 1-4 blooms having flat            inflorescence.        -   Stems.—Strength: Normal, average length is about 5 cm.            Diameter: 1.5 mm.        -   Form.—When first open, bloom is globular. Permanence of            bloom: retains its form to the end.-   Petalage: Number of petals under normal conditions: 43.    -   -   Color.—The upper sides of the petals are yellow RHS 11C in            the middle zone with orange RHS 27C at the tip. The reverse            sides of the petals are yellow RHS 11C in the middle zone            with orange RHS 27C at the tip.        -   Variegations.—Shading at the tip of the petals.        -   Discoloration.—The general tonality at the end of the first            day is yellow RHS 11C with orange RHS 27C, and at the end of            the third day is yellow RHS 11C with orange 27C.        -   Fragrance.—Strong. Character of fragrance: myrrh.-   Petals:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Size.—Width: 5.5 cm. Length: 6 cm.        -   Surface.—Smooth.        -   Shape.—Notched and obovate.        -   Margin.—Notched.        -   Apex shape.—Notched.        -   Base shape.—Obtuse.        -   Form.—Incurved.        -   Arrangement.—Imbricated.        -   Petaloids.—Number: 8. Color: RHS 11C+, RHS27C, and white RHS            155C. Length: 10-50 mm. Width: 4 mm. Shape: Obovate. Margin:            Irregular.        -   Persistence.—Petals hang on and dry.        -   Lastingness.—On the plant: About 7 days. As a cut flower:            Not tested.-   Reproductive parts:    -   -   Stamens.—Number: 100. Length: 10 mm.        -   Anthers.—Length: 2 mm. Color: yellow-orange RHS 22A.            Arrangement: regular around styles mostly, but a few are            tucked in the calyx.        -   Filaments.—Color: yellow-orange RHS 22A. Length: 8 mm.        -   Pollen.—Color: yellow-orange RHS 22A.        -   Pistils.—Number: 30. Length: 3.5 mm.        -   Styles.—Color: yellow with some pink (RHS 22B & RHS 47C).            Length: 3 mm.        -   Stigmas.—Color: yellow-orange RHS 22B. Length: 0.5 mm.        -   Hips.—None Observed.

PLANT CHARACTERISTICS

-   Plant form: Shrub.-   Plant growth: Vigorous, upright and branching.-   Age to maturity: Two years.-   Mature plant: Height: 150 cm. Width: 100 cm.-   Rootstock: Rosa cv. ‘Dr. Huey’ in the United States, Rosa    dumetorum cv. ‘Laxa’ for the observed plants in the UK.-   Foliage:    -   -   Number.—Leaflets on normal mid-stem leaves is: 15.        -   Size.—Medium, about 14 cm long×10.5 cm wide.        -   Quantity.—Normal. Number of leaves per flowering stem is:            14.        -   Color.—New foliage: Upper side: yellow/green RHS 146B. Lower            side: yellow/green RHS 146C. Old foliage: Upper side:            yellow/green RHS 147A. Lower side: yellow/green RHS 146B.-   Leaflets:    -   -   Size.—About 14 cm long×10.5 cm wide.        -   Shape.—Broadly oval.        -   Base shape.—Rounded.        -   Apex shape.—Acuminate.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Edge.—Serrated.        -   Serrations.—Single and large.        -   Petiole.—Color: yellow-green RHS 146B. Length: 6 cm. Width:            2 mm. Surface Texture: Rough.        -   Petiole rachis.—Color: green RHS 146B. Underside: with            prickles.        -   Stipules.—Length: 2.5 cm, glandular. Color: 146C.        -   Auricle.—Shape: Lanceolate. Length: 0.5 cm. Width: 2 mm.            Color: RHS 146B.        -   Vein color.—RHS 146B & RHS 179A.        -   Venation pattern.—Reticulate (net-veined).-   Wood:    -   -   New wood.—Color: violet-red RHS 179A. Bark: Smooth.        -   Old wood.—Color: dark-green RHS 146B. Bark: Smooth.-   Branching habit:    -   -   Number.—10.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—Length: 60 cm. Diameter: 7 mm.-   Stems:    -   -   Mature stem.—Length: 80 cm. Diameter: 9 mm.        -   Internode distance.—7 cm. The above measurements are all            variable, depending on growing conditions in a season.        -   Stem pubescence present.—No.        -   Stem color.—RHS 146B.-   Prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—On main canes from base: Few. Number per stem            length: 6 per 30 cm. On laterals from main canes: Few.            Number per stem length: 6 per 30 cm.        -   Form.—Deep concave.        -   Length.—7 mm.        -   Color when young.—Red RHS 179A.        -   Color when mature.—Brown RHS 177C.-   Small prickles:    -   -   Quantity.—Main stalk: None Number per stem length: N/A.            Laterals: Few Number per stem length: N/A.        -   Color.—When young: red RHS 179A. When mature: Brown RHS            177C.-   Disease resistance:    -   -   Mildew.—Resistant to Powdery Mildew and Downy Mildew.        -   Blackspot.—Resistant.        -   Rust.—Resistant.-   Pest resistance: Not tested.-   Winter hardiness: Not tested.-   Growing conditions: Normal.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant of theshrub class suitable for repeat flower production, substantially asherein shown and described.